Overview
- Leclerc agreed a new deal with Scuderia Ferrari in September 2026 and confirmed on the Beyond the Grid podcast that he did not hold direct talks with rival teams but learned of offers through his manager.
- He told reporters he wants to become world champion with Ferrari and cited his faith in the team project and in team principal Fred Vasseur as decisive reasons to stay.
- Autosport and other paddock reports say manager Nicolas Todt carried approaches to Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull and that Aston Martin made a late-2025 approach, but those contacts were handled by Todt rather than by Leclerc himself.
- Ferrari has improved its car and delivered regular upgrades, yet the team has also suffered operational errors such as costly strategy calls and pit-stop problems that have lost points during races.
- Leclerc’s choice reflected contractual reality because his 2024 long-term deal included a 2026 break point and rival teams largely kept their line-ups, making continuity at Ferrari the clearest path for him to chase a championship.